[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84788-84789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26746]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-159, C-560-841, C-201-861, C-489-851]


Aluminum Extrusions From the People's Republic of China, 
Indonesia, Mexico, and the Republic of Turkey: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determinations in the Countervailing Duty Investigations

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.


DATES: Applicable December 6, 2023.

[[Page 84789]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eliza Delong (the People's Republic of 
China (China)), Thomas Martin (Indonesia), Christopher Williams 
(Mexico), and Megan Goins (the Republic of Turkey (Turkey)), AD/CVD 
Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3878, (202) 482-3936, 
(202) 482-5166, or (202) 482-0884, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of 
aluminum extrusions from China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Turkey.\1\ 
Currently, the preliminary determinations are due no later than 
December 28, 2023.
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    \1\ See Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China, 
Indonesia, Mexico, and the Republic of Turkey: Initiation of 
Countervailing Duty Investigations, 88 FR 74433 (October 31, 2023).
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Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

    Section 703(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in a CVD 
investigation within 65 days after the date on which Commerce initiated 
the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1) of the Act permits 
Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no later than 
130 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation 
if: (A) the petitioner makes a timely request for a postponement; or 
(B) Commerce concludes that the parties concerned are cooperating, that 
the investigation is extraordinarily complicated, and that additional 
time is necessary to make a preliminary determination. Under 19 CFR 
351.205(e), the petitioner must submit a request for postponement 25 
days or more before the scheduled date of the preliminary determination 
and must state the reasons for the request. Commerce will grant the 
request unless it finds compelling reasons to deny the request.
    On November 29, 2023, the petitioners \2\ submitted a timely 
request that Commerce postpone the preliminary determinations in these 
investigations.\3\ The petitioners state that it is necessary to extend 
the deadline for the preliminary determinations to collect the 
necessary information for determining the most accurate possible CVD 
subsidy rates, because the full questionnaire responses are not due 
until a few days before and after the current preliminary 
determinations deadline, which gives Commerce little or no time to 
review responses from respondents, issue supplemental questionnaires, 
or consider deficiency comments before reaching a preliminary 
determination.\4\
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    \2\ The petitioners are the U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition 
(the members of which are Alexandria Extrusion Company; APEL 
Extrusions; Bonnell Aluminum; Brazeway; Custom Aluminum Products; 
Extrudex Aluminum; International Extrusions; Jordan Aluminum 
Company; M-D Building Products, Inc.; Merit Aluminum Corporation; MI 
Metals; Pennex Aluminum; Tower Extrusions; and Western Extrusions) 
and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, 
Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union.
    \3\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Request for Postponement of the 
Preliminary Determination,'' dated November 29, 2023.
    \4\ Id.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioners have stated 
the reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary 
determinations, and Commerce finds no compelling reason to deny the 
request. Therefore, in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, 
Commerce is postponing the deadline for the preliminary determinations 
to no later than 130 days after the date on which these investigations 
were initiated, i.e., March 4, 2024.\5\ Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final 
determinations of these investigations will continue to be 75 days 
after the date of the preliminary determinations.
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    \5\ Because the extended deadline for these preliminary 
determinations falls on the weekend (i.e., March 2, 2024), the 
deadline becomes the next business day. See Notice of Clarification: 
Application of ``Next Business Day'' Rule for Administrative 
Determination Deadlines Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, As 
Amended, 70 FR 24533 (May 10, 2005).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: November 30, 2023.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-26746 Filed 12-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P